In June 2001, a young Capeverdean singer, hardly 16 years old, completely unknown until then, won a gold medal at the Plays of Francophonie singing contest in Ottawa Hull in Canada among 35 competitors from around world. Mayra Curado Andrade obtained the first Gold medal for her country during an international singing competition.
This event was huge for Cape Verde , since music is one of the principal exported wealth for this small archipelago of ten islands lost in the Atlantic Ocean 500 kilometers of the coasts of Senegal . The young Mayra, who is today the figurehead of the rising generation of singers of her country, was born in Cuba from Capeverdean parents. Mayra lived in Senegal, in Angola, then in Germany.
At 13 years old, she was already noticed for her voice and her personality. She was selected to sing in Belgium during a conference dedicated to Dalaï LAMA' students. After her victory at the Francophonie in Canada, Mayra did not stop performing. She toured Cape Verde, in particular at Praia and Mindelo.
Then, in the mythical room the "Coliseu Dos Recreios" in Lisbon , she sang alongside Bau, former instrumentalist of Césaria Evora. It is in July 2002 that Mayra is invited for the very first time in France, to the Festival of Jazz of "Rendezvous de l'Erdre". On stage, at the sides of two great ladies of the international jazz, the New-Yorker Sheila Jordan and Armenian Datévik Hovanessian, Mayra obtained an enormous success.
She enchanted the Congress of the City of Nantes during the opening of the 24th International Festival of film of the three continents while singing "a Cappella". Then, it was at the "Festival de la Harpe" that Mayra was the headline for the first time. The invitations began to follow: at the Africajarc Festival, she performed beside Joe Zawinul, Ismael Lo, and Angélique Kidjo. She opened for Césaria Evora at New Morning in Paris, for Enrico Macias in the "Festopale" at Etaples and for the Cuban Ernesto Titos Puentes at the time of the "Festival of Jazz" of Valves.
Mayra imposes consequently her own style. She is astonishingly at ease with Morna, Funana, Coladera, and Batuque while adding a bit of jazz. Her personality and her talent bring a true new breath to the music of the islands of Cape Verde, heir of a mixture of rhythms of Africa, the Old man-Continent.
Turbulénsa
Mayra Andrade Lyrics
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Nha naviu ta navega n-es már turbuléntu
Marinherus ta kánta
Melodiâ pa transforma tempural na poeziâ
Briza di már
Da-m trazê-m inspirasãu pa armoniâ mundial
Vága enórme navega nha naviu
N-um pauta melódika i puétika
Balánsu di már
Balánsu di pás
Vida turbuléntu
Entra na témpu
Um témpu bensuádu pa Deus i Virja Mariâ
The lyrics of Mayra Andrade's song "Turbulénsa" speak of a tumultuous sea voyage that the singer embarks on, and the power of music to bring calm even in the midst of chaos. The opening line, "U nha mãi!" is a Cape Verdean Creole expression that roughly translates to "that's my girl!" or "I've got this!" The singer compares herself to a ship navigating through turbulent waters, while the sailor on board sings to help transform the stormy weather into poetry. The sea breeze brings her inspiration for a global harmony, and her ship sails through vast, melodic and poetic landscapes.
The chorus of the song, "Balánsu di már, balánsu di pás, vida turbuléntu, entra na témpu" refers to the ups and downs of life, and how we must navigate these struggles just as a ship navigates through stormy waters. The last line of the song, "Um témpu bensuádu pa Deus i Virja Mariâ" means "a blessed time for God and the Virgin Mary". This line suggests that even in the midst of chaos and struggle, there is always hope for peace and blessings, and that faith can help us weather any storm.
Overall, the lyrics of "Turbulénsa" convey a powerful message of resilience and the importance of finding beauty and harmony even in the midst of chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
U nha mãi!
Oh my mother!
Nha naviu ta navega n-es már turbuléntu
My ship is sailing in rough seas
Marinherus ta kánta
The sailors are singing
Melodiâ pa transforma tempural na poeziâ
Melodies transform the chaos into poetry
Briza di már
The sea breeze
Da-m trazê-m inspirasãu pa armoniâ mundial
Brings me inspiration for global harmony
Vága enórme navega nha naviu
My huge ship sails aimlessly
N-um pauta melódika i puétika
In a melodic and poetic pattern
Balánsu di már
The ebb and flow of the sea
Balánsu di pás
The rhythm of footsteps
Vida turbuléntu
A turbulent life
Entra na témpu
Enters into time
Um témpu bensuádu pa Deus i Virja Mariâ
A blessed time for God and the Virgin Mary
Contributed by Makayla M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.